Players

by Rachel Cross

  Tiana shook her head. “There’s always going to be a new or demanding client. You need to learn to delegate. Let your junior teammates do some of the work.”

  Walking into the kitchen, he stood across from her. “Are you telling me I don’t know how to do my job? That I’m not a good manager?”

  Tiana sighed and pressed her hands against the counter, already drained from the conversation. “You need to let your other teammates shine. One, because it keeps them motivated and, two, because you’re going to burn yourself out at the rate you’re going. Something has to give. And right now, you’re pushing our relationship to the back burner.”

  “I thought you’d understand and be a little patient. Have faith in me.” His deep eyes sought hers. “You know how I feel about you.”

  “Actually, I don’t. Why don’t you enlighten me?”

  He wrapped his arms around her shoulders and crowded her. Her behind bounced against the edge of the kitchen sink. “I want us to work, and I’ll do whatever it takes.” He stroked her jaw and stirred her hope. “I care about you.”

  “You care?” She spat the words out as if they were poison and ducked away from his arms. “We’ve been together for almost eight months, and all you can say is that you care?”

  Nathan rubbed a hand over his face. “I see you’re in a mood.” He sighed, stuffing his hands into the pockets of his black slacks. “Maybe I should go.”

  “Yes.” Marching to the door, she yanked it open and then waved her hands toward the entry. “Give me a call when you can use stronger words than care and have more than ten minutes to breeze in and out of my life.”

  “Fine, Tiana. I’ll see you tomorrow at work.”

  Or not.

  • • •

  Anger and frustration burned Nathan’s chest. He took a swig of whiskey and sat on his favorite recliner. Why couldn’t she understand that work wouldn’t always be like this? And how dare she tell him he didn’t know how to manage his direct reports? The woman had a lot of nerve. He’d like to see how she’d do if the roles were reversed. She had no idea the amount of work and pressure involved with the job. Add to the fact that for some reason his mother had been calling him lately. She’d even sicced her lackey Gerald on him.

  Probably wants me to play the doting son at some charity event.

  If he continued to ignore her—and he had all intentions of doing so—she’d most likely dig up dirt for leverage.

  His phone vibrated in his pocket. Tiana better be calling to apologize.

  “Nathan,” his stepmother breathed over the phone. “It’s your father. He’s had a heart attack.”

  • • •

  Rolling over, Tiana turned her phone back on. She’d turned it off in anger, afraid that Nathan would call with more excuses. Jerk.

  She pressed the voicemail notification that immediately dinged. The familiar Jersey accent cleared her groggy mind. Mr. Goldberg. Her heart stuttered. Nathan had had a family emergency, and they needed her to fill in. He didn’t say what it was, but she was determined to find out. God I hope everything is okay. She rolled out of bed and called Nathan.

  “Pick up, pick up, pick up.” The rings stopped, and voicemail picked up.

  “Nathan, honey, it’s me. Mr. Goldberg just called. Said you had a family emergency. I’m going into the office to take care of a few things for you, but please call me. I hope you’re doing okay. I-I . . . I love you.”

  She clicked off, sent a quick text to Mel canceling their girls’ day out, and then rushed to get ready for work.

  • • •

  “Tiana, so glad you could come in on such short notice. I know you had paid time off for Monday and Tuesday.” Mr. Goldberg waved to a chair in front of his desk. “Please, shut the door behind you.”

  She complied and then rushed to the seat. “Is everything all right? Nathan had a family emergency?”

  Mr. Goldberg nodded. “Yes, yes. His father had a heart attack.”

  Tiana gripped her seat as her heart beat wildly. Oh, no, no, no! Nathan must be out of his mind with worry.

  “My goodness! Is Garrett, I mean, Mr. Lawson stable? He didn’t d-die?” Tears welled, ready to fall from the bad news.

  Handing her Kleenex, Mr. Goldberg looked curious. “I didn’t realize you and he were so close.” His voice held a suspicious tone.

  Her heart leaped at the subtle accusation. “No, I-I . . . his father stopped by a few times. Very nice man. I know he and Nathan are close.”

  “Yes, which is why Nathan is taking a temporary leave of absence. Richard and I discussed it, and we think you’d be the best person to fill in. We’ll compensate you for your new responsibilities. As bad as we feel about Nathan and his family, Fiete’s high season is spring and summer. We need to create a blitz digital campaign to generate more sales. Can you handle this while Nathan is out?”

  Excitement bubbled in her chest. “Of course.”

  Mr. Goldberg slapped his knee. “We knew you’d be up for the challenge. Tammy can take over your current accounts and divvy them up amongst the other managers. I want your full attention on Fiete.”

  Tiana stood and shook his hand, trying hard to not give into the feeling that she was shaking hands with the devil. She tossed the feeling off on the way to her office. No, this is the best way to support Nathan. So he doesn’t have to worry about the job.

  Rushing into the office, she called him again. This time, it went straight to voicemail. She lightly tapped her phone against her head. “Think, Tiana.”

  She snapped her fingers. She’d exchanged numbers with his stepmother. Scrolling through her list of contacts, she found Martha’s name and pressed the call button. The call went straight to voicemail, too. Damn. Instead of hanging up, she left a message.

  “Hi Martha. It’s me, Tiana. I’m so sorry about Garrett. I heard about it from my boss, and I haven’t spoken to Nathan since last night. He . . . well, I just wanted to let you know that I’m praying for Garrett. I know you’re busy. But if you have any time at all, can you call me please? Or text. Whatever you prefer.”

  Tiana sighed after the voicemail limit cut her off. “Might as well get to work.” Turning to her computer, she reviewed the current marketing plan and project management spreadsheet. Scanning the tasks, she could see why Nathan was so busy. He alone had almost doubled the project hours of his team. First thing first, she’d meet with her new team. They wouldn’t be taking advantage of her man anymore.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Nathan clicked the answer button when he saw his company’s phone number flash on the phone screen. “Nathan speaking.”

  “How are you, Nathan?” Isaac’s voice muffled by poor reception greeted him.

  “I’m doing all right.” Nathan hurried down the hospital corridor toward the cafeteria, which had a better signal.

  “How’s your father?”

  Nathan moved his mouth from the receiver and sighed. Damned if he wasn’t tired of the question. He wished he could answer everything was sunshine and rainbows. But it had only been two days since the heart attack.

  “Day by day he’s doing better. Thanks for asking.” He stopped in front of the cafeteria and leaned against the wall.

  “Of course, of course.”

  Nathan could imagine Isaac pacing the floor of his corner office. “Let us know if we can do anything to help. Anything at all, we are here for you.” He paused for a bit. “Well, I know you’re busy, and I won’t take up too much of your time. Richard and I received your email about taking a few weeks off, and that’s fine. As far as working from home for the next month . . . well . . . the Fiete account requires a lot of face time and we need someone at the office to lead the team.”

  Acid burned in Nathan’s stomach. Here for me, my ass. He didn’t need this shit. He didn’t need the silent threat of his job in jeopardy lumped on top of his father’s poor health.

  Isaac continued speaking, not realizing Nathan’s mounting anger.

  “We t
alked to Tiana, and she is going to take over your account. She’s keen to get started and—”

  “Is she?” Nathan asked. He couldn’t remove the coolness from his voice. His heart felt as if it was stuffed and twisted in a meat grinder.

  “Now, now. It’s temporary of course. We cannot and will not replace you. You are a valuable person to our team.”

  Nathan exhaled and gripped his phone. “Of course, Isaac.” He pushed off the wall. “But you must realize this came out of nowhere. I am fully prepared to work from my father’s home. I’m only a drive away and—”

  “I realize that, Nathan. I know you are willing and able to do so and we appreciate your dedication. But Tiana is prepared to step in, and Fiete has requested to work with her in your absence. We’re darn lucky Tiana is able to jump in and help.”

  Sure we are. He clenched his jaw, determined to keep his doubt to himself.

  Isaac cleared his voice. “Besides, we looked at your vacation time and you have nearly eight weeks saved. Take time off and spend it with your father. We’ve got you covered.”

  Nathan’s anger crested, ready to crash. He didn’t want to take it out on Isaac. His heart was somewhat in the right place, but Nathan had no doubt the company was just as concerned, if not more, about keeping Fiete as a client.

  No, his anger funneled to the woman who’d claimed to uphold honesty and integrity. Damn, damn, damn. She’d tricked him again. Each kiss she’d given him was a setup. A setup to soften the eventual hammer that would slam down once she enacted her betrayal. She had waited for the right moment and took advantage when he was at his weakest.

  “Nathan. Are you still on the line?”

  “Yes, Isaac. I’m here. I’ll see you in a month.” His voice was clipped and precise. He wouldn’t allow anything to seep through. He wouldn’t allow himself to feel or think. To think about Tiana’s beguiling hazel eyes. To feel the softness from her deceiving lips.

  “Good talk, Nathan. We’ll be praying for your father. Oh, and by the way, we’ll need you to send Tiana your latest files and notes.”

  “All the files are stored on the D: drive,” his robotic voice answered. “I have to go. Thanks for the call.”

  “All right, Nathan. Take care.”

  Nathan lowered the phone from his ear. A text message notification blinked on the screen. Tiana.

  Hey, sweetie. I’m checking on you again. Martha told me things are looking better for Garrett. I miss you . . . Please call me back when you can.

  Nothing about taking over my account. She’d called the morning after Pops’s heart attack, but he hadn’t had the time to call her, so he’d sent a quick message. Between meetings with doctors, calls with insurance companies, and watching over his father, he’d been swamped. He’d planned to call her back today but after Isaac’s call, he wouldn’t call. He didn’t trust her. And if she cared so much, she’d be here with me. Career over love and career over family. Just like Renita. He shook his head. He didn’t have time to obsess about Tiana; he needed to focus on Pops.

  • • •

  Nathan crushed the paper-thin coffee cup in his hand when he spotted the bloodhound—better known as his mother—turn the corner of the corridor. Thank God he’d left Pops’s room to stretch his legs and fuel up on caffeine. Otherwise, that woman would’ve been there to do the very thing she’d threatened all those years ago—to gloat over Pops on his deathbed.

  Her low-heeled pumps tapped against the bright white linoleum floor. Fire burned his veins as he rushed to cover the twenty-foot distance.

  “Get out, Renita.”

  “My, my, Nathaniel. Did your father’s lover teach you those bad manners?” She clutched her pearl necklace. “It’s Mother to you.”

  “You don’t deserve the title, and Pops’s wife’s name is Martha. If anyone deserves the title, it’s her.”

  Martha had been the gentle touch he’d so desperately craved as a teenager. She was at every graduation and every game when he’d played sports. Hell, she was the president of the booster club when he played high school football.

  “I want to see your father.”

  “And people in hell want ice water.” His tone was rough and dry. After countless hours of sleep deprivation and stress, vending machine snacks and coffee, he didn’t have the patience to deal with Renita’s toxic behavior. Five days after Pops’s heart attack, Nathan could breathe a little easier. His father was on the road to recovery but it would be a rocky one.

  “Always the protector.” She twisted her lips. “Your ‘Pops,’ as you call him, isn’t as saintly as you think he is. He doesn’t deserve your hero worship.”

  Nathan’s hands shook with rage. He hadn’t been able to defend himself properly when he was an innocent child who wanted his mother’s love. No kisses on his forehead or hugs or soft words. She was always too busy for kisses, or he was too dirty for hugs. And she never uttered a soft word in her entire existence. Even when he graduated as valedictorian in high school and won all-state for track. She would turn away and say something about work or the things she’d accomplished by his age.

  “If he was such a great father, why did I have custody over you when you were younger? They didn’t have custody until after you were brainwashed to choose your father over me. So tell me,” she leaned closer, “why didn’t he fight harder for you?”

  He flinched at her knife-sharp words.

  Her eyes flared, knowing she’d had a direct hit. “You don’t have to answer. I’ll tell you why. Because he was too busy playing house with that woman and tried to build another family. A perfect family with a wife who ironed his underwear and a son who wasn’t whiny and needy. But that didn’t happen; she couldn’t give him what I could. He deserved—”

  Grabbing the crook of her arm, Nathan steered her away from the middle of the walkway to an empty corner. Then he stepped back and folded his arms over his chest. Damn if he wasn’t disappointed in himself. Disappointed at the power that woman and her hateful words still had over him.

  “Don’t you finish your statement,” he warned in a low voice. “My father does not want to see you, and I don’t want to see you. I don’t know how you found out about the heart attack, but if you come here again, I will place a restraining order on you. Not only that, I’ll spread the news far and wide. You won’t be able to go to another charity function or social outing at your fancy-ass country club without someone whispering behind their hands. Whispering the God’s honest truth that Renita Everest,” he stressed her maiden name, “has an unhealthy obsession with her ex-husband. How she’s so desperate to get his attention that she tried to force herself into his hospital room.”

  Now her eyes flared. Score for me.

  “By the time I’m finished airing all your dirty laundry to your so-called friends and gossip society rags, you’ll be a social pariah. Do you understand me?”

  “Why are you being this way? I just want to see how he’s doing,” she said in a smooth, cool voice.

  “No, you want his money, and you aren’t getting another red penny. You already gouged him for child support and have enough money from your own inheritance. You don’t need his hard-earned money.”

  She tossed her artfully framed coif over her shoulder. “He owes me alimony. He owes me the time I spent carrying you for nine months, and he owes me for breaking his vows and leaving me!”

  His mother rarely lost her cool composure. But Nathan didn’t care. She wouldn’t waste another second of his time, and she damn sure wasn’t going to bother Pops or Martha. “You don’t seem to understand that this isn’t up for discussion. It’s a yes or no answer. Leave quietly, or I’ll have the hospital’s chief of security escort you. Your choice.”

  “Nathan?” a soft voice whispered behind him. His hot skin cooled. Damn, he couldn’t handle another surprise visitor.

  He turned around. “Hey.”

  Tiana had her hands clasped behind her back, pushing out her chest. Her eyes sparked as she volleyed her attentio
n between him and the dragon lady.

  Renita raised her eyebrows. “And you are?”

  “None of your damn business,” he answered for Tiana.

  “Tiana Holliday.” She cocked her head. “And you are?”

  “Renita Lawson. Nathaniel’s mother. She smiled slowly. “Oh, I know who you are. You’re that woman Nathaniel works with.” She tapped her chin and tilted it toward the ceiling. “You both were up for a promotion, right?” She turned to him, and her eyes held a secret glimmer. “Say, Nathaniel. Who’s holding down the fort while you play doctor?”

  Nathan narrowed his gaze at Tiana. She looked startled. Surprised. Guilty? His mother had found his insecurity and aired it out for Tiana to see.

  Oh, Tiana could and would play innocent, but she still hadn’t mentioned in her barrage of texts that she’d taken over his account.

  Tiana’s wide and surprised eyes drifted toward Renita. Tiana hadn’t been exposed to Renita’s maliciousness, but he had and he damn sure wasn’t shocked that she knew the details of his life.

  The woman was a snake and a sneak, and she made it her business to know the steps of her associates and her enemies. He knew in this case, he was the enemy and she was poised to strike.

  “Nathan’s job is safe with me, Renita,” Tiana’s icy voice answered.

  Is it? Nathan refrained from voicing his doubts in front of Renita, and he refused to give her more ammunition.

  Renita tilted her head with a doubtful look on her face. “If you say so, dear.” She shrugged. “It’s a tough world out there for women in corporate America. Sometimes, one must do what one must do.”

  He remembered the huge scandal when Renita had ousted her boss Sven, and taken over his position as editor-in-chief. Rumors had run amuck, some being that she’d set up her former coworker to fail.

  Done with the conversation, Nathan pulled out his phone and pressed the quick key he’d set up for the hospital’s number. The phone rang in his ear. “Yes, can you please have someone in security come to room two-twenty-four. We have an unwanted visitor that has threatened to disturb my dad, who is recovering from a heart attack.”